Jordan’s exports rise 8.9% in first 9 months of 2025 

Aqaba container terminal, Jordan. Getty
Short Url
Updated 26 November 2025
Follow

Jordan’s exports rise 8.9% in first 9 months of 2025 

RIYADH: Jordan’s total exports increased by 8.9 percent year on year in the first nine months of 2025, driven by a 9.1 percent rise in national exports and a 6.5 percent jump in re-exports, new figures revealed. 

The Department of Statistics’ monthly foreign trade report showed this growth was accompanied by a 7 percent increase in imports.

The trade deficit widened by 5 percent during the first nine months of this year compared to the same period in 2024, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The figures come as Jordan maintained its long-term sovereign credit rating at “BB-” with a stable outlook in August, according to S&P Global, highlighting the country’s economic resilience despite regional uncertainty. The ratings agency attributed its decision to macroeconomic stability, continued reform progress, and sustained international support. 

“The total export-to-import coverage ratio reached 51 percent during the first nine months of this year, compared to 50 percent for the same period last year, marking an increase of one percentage point,” the Petra report stated. 

It added: “The coverage ratio for September alone reached 53 percent, compared to 54 percent for the same month in 2024, a decrease of one percentage point.” 

Economic data further indicated that for the first nine months of 2025, total exports stood at 7.69 billion Jordanian dinars ($10.8 billion), including 6.99 billion dinars in national exports and 693 million dinars in re-exports. Imports reached 14.98 billion dinars during the same period. 

As for the trade deficit, it reached 7.29 billion dinars during the first nine months of the year, an increase of 348 million dinars compared to the same period of the previous year. 

For September, total exports reached 979 million dinars, including 899 million dinars in national exports and 80 million dinars in re-exports. Imports stood at 1.83 billion dinars, resulting in a trade deficit of 851 million dinars for the month. 

Total exports for September jumped by 17.1 percent compared to the same month last year, with national exports rising by 16.9 percent, re-exports by 19.4 percent, and imports by 17.8 percent, leading to an 18.5 percent rise in the trade deficit. 

Jordan–Syria trade surges 

The value of Jordanian exports to Syria more than tripled during the first nine months of 2025, increasing by 383.3 percent, driven by the resumption of trade activity between the two countries. 

According to data issued by the Department of Statistics, the value of Jordanian exports to Syria rose to 174 million dinars, reflecting growing demand in the Syrian market for Jordanian goods. 

Meanwhile, the value of Jordanian imports from Syria also increased, reaching approximately 72 million dinars, representing an annual growth rate of 71.4 percent. 

The total volume of trade between the two countries recorded significant growth as well, reaching 264 million dinars during the same period, compared to 78 million dinars for the corresponding period last year. 


Saudi POS transactions see 20% surge to hit $4bn: SAMA

Updated 05 December 2025
Follow

Saudi POS transactions see 20% surge to hit $4bn: SAMA

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions surged by 20.4 percent in the week ending Nov. 29, to reach SR15.1 billion ($4 billion).

According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, the number of POS transactions represented a 9.1 percent week-on-week increase to 240.25 million compared to 220.15 million the week before.

Most categories saw positive change across the period, with spending on laundry services registering the biggest uptick at 36 percent to SR65.1 million. Recreation followed, with a 35.3 percent increase to SR255.99 million. 

Expenditure on apparel and clothing saw an increase of 34.6 percent, followed by a 27.8 percent increase in spending on telecommunication. Jewelry outlays rose 5.6 percent to SR354.45 million.

Data revealed decreases across only three sectors, led by education, which saw the largest dip at 40.4 percent to reach SR62.26 million. 

Spending on airlines in Saudi Arabia fell by 25.2 percent, coinciding with major global flight disruptions. This followed an urgent Airbus recall of 6,000 A320-family aircraft after solar radiation was linked to potential flight-control data corruption. Saudi carriers moved swiftly to implement the mandatory fixes.

Flyadeal completed all updates and rebooked affected passengers, while flynas updated 20 aircraft with no schedule impact. Their rapid response contained the disruption, allowing operations to return to normal quickly.

Expenditure on food and beverages saw a 28.4 percent increase to SR2.31 billion, claiming the largest share of the POS. Spending on restaurants and cafes followed with an uptick of 22.3 percent to SR1.90 billion.

The Kingdom’s key urban centers mirrored the national decline. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 14.1 percent surge to SR5.08 billion, up from SR4.46 billion the previous week. The number of transactions in the capital reached 75.2 million, up 4.4 percent week-on-week.

In Jeddah, transaction values increased by 18.1 percent to SR2.03 billion, while Dammam reported a 14 percent surge to SR708.08 million.

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia. 

The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives. 

The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the nation’s broader digital economy.